Seoul - 2.3 Population Changes in Hanseong

_{Understanding Korea Series No.4}
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2) The Principle Behind the Establishment of the Capital, Hanseong	3) Population Changes in Hanseong	1) Transformation of the City Prototype

Hanseongbu’s jurisdiction was divided into two major parts for better public administration and security, namely the five districts within the city and Sangjeosimni (the outer city). Military officers and merchants who serviced the king and the royal family resided in the 5 districts, and Sangjeosimni supplied produces and various goods from around the country to the residents of the city. Hanseong’s population record of 1428 (10th year of King Sejong’s reign) in the early Josoen Dynasty shows that 103,328 (94.5%) people out of 109,372 total population resided within the city, and only 6,044 (5.5%) people resided in Sangjeosimni. In 1789 during the late Joseon Dynasty the population within the city remained relatively constant while the population of Sangjeosimni dramatically increased (by 1,170.4%), and the growth rate of the number of houses (1,263.9%) was also prominent.

Table 1 Population Growth Comparison of the Inside and Outer-side the City
Year	Number of Houses			Population
Year	Inside of the City	Outerside of the City	Total	Inside of the City	Outerside of the City	Total
1428 (A)	16,921	1,601	18,522	103,328	6,044	109,372
1789 (B)	22,094	21,835	43,929	112,371	76,782	189,153
Increase in Number (B-A)	5,173	20,234	25,407	9,043	70,738	79,781
Increase Rate (%)	30.5	1,263.8	137.2	8.7	1,170.4	72.9

There were two main causes behind the rapid growth in Hanseong’s population. First, Hanseong developed into the commercial center of the country due to the enforcement of Daedongbeop (Standard Tax Law) in the 17th century, and the circulation of metal currency began. Second, because of natural disasters influenced by the Little Ice Age, migrants and farmers came into the city at an accelerated rate. The Gyeonggang area, which used to be the center of maritime transportation, grew into a commercial center that connected the core commercial authorities of the city with the markets around the country. Areas near Hanseong such as Gwangju (Songpajang), Yangju (Nuwonjeom) and Gwacheon emerged as the new distribution hubs that connected all local cities of the country.

Table 2 Cities with Population of more than 5,000 in 1789(13th Year of King Jeongjo’s Reign) [Source: Go Donghwan, 2011 The Capital Hanyang of Joseon Period: Focused on the Order and Spatial Expressions, Sahakbo 209]
Area	Population	Area	Population	Area	Population	Area	Population
Hanyang	189,153	Gilju	8,641	Gyeongju	6,263	Jeongan	5,488
Gaeseong	27,769	Hwangju	8,123	Myeongcheon	5,978	Gwangju	5,467
Pyeongyang	21,869	Geoje	7,839	Changseong	5,963	Cheongju	5,436
Sangju	18,296	Yeongyu	7,754	Uiseong	5,948	Sangwon	5,431
Jeonju	16,694	Gongju	7,139	Dongrae	5,946	Hamheung	5,418
Daegu	13,734	Seongcheon	7,085	Milyang	5,818	Cheolsan	5,272
Chungju	11,905	Jeju	6,761	Chosan	5,769	Deokcheon	5,255
Uiju	10,837	Jeongju	6,536	Ganghwa	5,704	Heungwon	5,225
Jinju	10,000	Anju	6,401	Naju	5,638	Onyang	5,417
Haeju	9,958	Andong	6,334	Asan	5,607	Buyeo	5,144
Gyeongseong	9,102	Dangjin	6,316	Taein	5,601	Gasan	5,081
Busan	9,047	Dancheon	6,308	Gwangju	5,525	Yangju	5,031

Fifty cities around the country had population of more than 5,000 at that time (1789), and the total population of 49 cities, exclusive of Hanseong, was 571,663. Hanseong was the main city of Joseon where 30% of all city population resided. Satellite cities such as Gwangju and Yangju served as distribution hubs with populations that equaled major cities in other areas of country and together formed the greater metropolitan area. Hanseong’s status as the central city was strengthened as the monetary economic system developed and population increased in the late Joseon Dynasty. In short, it was not only the political, military and administrative center but it also became the number one city in economic sense.

Understanding Korea Series No.4 Seoul

Foreword · Acknowledgments 1. A City Called Seoul · 1.1 Introduction · 1.2 Seoul as the Capital and a Local City

2. The Capital of Joseon, Hanseong · 2.1 Seoul Before It Became the Capital · 2.2 The Principle Behind the Establishment of the Capital, Hanseong · 2.3 Population Changes in Hanseong

3. Modern City Gyeongseong · 3.1 Transformation of the City Prototype · 3.2 Transformation of the Urban Space · 3.3 Expansion of Gyeongseong’s Urban Area

4. The Growth of Seoul and Transformation of the Urban Space · 4.1 Population Growth and Expansion of the Urban Center · 4.2 Redevelopment of Gangbuk’s Original Urban Center · 4.3 New Development of Gangnam · 4.4 Differentiation of the Urban Space, the Way to a Polycentric City · 4.5 Megalopolitanization of Seoul Metropolitan Area: Megacity Seoul

5. Shadow of Growth and Regeneration and Healing of the City · 5.1 The Miracle on the Han River: Accomplishments and Shortcomings · 5.2 Apartment Nation and Economic Imbalance between Gangnam and Gangbuk · 5.3 Disappearance and Regeneration of the Traditional Urban Residences · 5.4 Waterways and Reviving Stream that have Disappeared · 5.5 Restoration of the Destructed Ecological Environment · 5.6 Congested Streets and Rising Environmental Pollution

6. Historical and Cultural City, Culture of Seoul · 6.1 Seoul’s Symbolic Space and the Emblem of Seoul, Haechi · 6.2 Diverse Cultural Areas and Streets · 6.3 Culture of Recreation and Past Time · 6.4 Consumer Culture of the Subway Station Vicinity Areas · 6.5 Education-oriented Culture

7. Global City Seoul’s Present · 7.1 Global City Seoul · 7.2 Policies Geared Toward a Global City

Sources · About the Author